SRINAGAR: Various pro-freedom groups and religious organization on Thursday denounced the decision of Jammu High Court asking the government to strictly implement an existing order which bans the sale of beef in the state after hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against cow slaughter.
A division bench comprising justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed the director general of police (DGP) to ensure strict compliance of the order on beef by issuing appropriate directions to all the senior superintendents (SSPs) and station house officers (SHOs) in the state.
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, in a statement, said that the Jammu & Kashmir was a Muslim majority region and the court has not considered the ramification of the order.
“The decision is politically motivated, and seems to have been issued with an aim to provoke communal tension in the state and to project a wrong image of freedom struggle of the subjugated Kashmiri people,” he said.
He blamed RSS and BJP of influencing the court decision.
“In view of the order, the organizations including Mutahida Majlis Ulama, Majlis Ulama, Majlis Tahafuz Imaan, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamait Ahle Hadith, Darul Uloom Rahimiya Bandipora, Darul Uloom Bilaliya, Anjuman Tablieg ul Islam, Karwan-e-Islamia, Anjuman Himayat-ul-Islam, Ithaad-ul-Muslimeen, Anjuman-e-Ulama-i-Ahnaf, Anjuman Muzharul-Haq, Anjuman Nusratul Islam, Darul Uloom Qasmiya, Tanzeen Aiyma Masjid Jammu and Kashmir, Ajuman Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamaat, in a joint statement, termed the High Court decision as direct and undue interference in the religious matters of Muslims which will not be tolerated,” a Hurriyat Conference spokesman said in a statement.
He said that the government and the judiciary were unnecessarily intervening in the religious affairs of the Muslim majority Jammu and Kashmir. “ Such orders cause causes resentment and displeasure among the masses,” the statement said.
He said that party chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will call a meeting of members of Majlis Ulama to discuss the matter.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, in a statement, said that the order implies to “direct interference in religious affairs of Muslims.
“These kinds of orders will harm religious harmony in Jammu Kashmir. Such issues are carved only to harm Kashmir issue and implement RSS agenda on Kashmir,” he alleged.
He said that Muslims here will never accept these “politically motivated orders”. “Such orders will be met with stiff resistance,” he said.
He said that Kashmir is a Muslim majority state and issuing any order that hurts the sentiments of majority here “will have serious implications”.
“This order is an eye opener for those who propagate India as being a so-called secular and democratic state,” he added.
“At the behest of RSS, PDP-BJP coalition is carving new issues on daily basis to divert attention of people from the core Kashmir issue,” he claimed.
Malik said that Muslims only adhere and accept the command of Allah and his last messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAW). “Any orders against these two sacrosanct scriptures will face a stiff resistance from us.”
National Front chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan while reacting to the order asked people slaughter only bovine animals on the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
“No power on earth can change halal into haram and haram into halal,” Nayeem Ahmad Khan said in a statement adding that Muslims have to follow Shariat and not the dictations of any court, government or bureaucracy.
“It is an illogical order which has injured the religious sentiments of the majority people of the state and is interference in the religious matters,” he said.
Jama’at-e-Islami, in a statement, said they would oppose the ban on beef in a “democratic” way.
“Even if legislation is passed and vetted by Indian Parliament, Jamaat will never accept it,” he said.
Bhat also said the organization welcomed the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes but their settlement in exclusive security enclaves is aimed not only at harming the age old brotherhood bond between the two communities but also to harm the interests of Muslims.
He also expressed solidarity with political prisoners and Muslims of Jammu, who he said are being harassed by “fascist” forces.
Muslim League headed by incarcerated Masarat Aalam on Thursday also expressed anguish over the ban on sale of beef in the state and urged people to sacrifice bovine on Eid-ul-Azha.
In a hurriedly called press conference, the acting chairman of Muslim League Muhammad Yousuf Mir told reporters here that there shall be no comprise on religion and they can’t accept the ban on beef.
“We want to tell you that when we are against India then we also stand against secularism and infidelity. The authority lies with Allah and neither can we accept this decision nor we can comprise over our religion,” Mir said.
The Muslim League leader urged people to sacrifice bovine animals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha to earn “double reward”. “One is that you are sacrificing a bovine on Eid and another is that you are defying man-made law,” he said.
Dukhtaran-e- Milat (DeM) chief Asiya Andrabi Thursday asked all clerics in Kashmir to address the issue of imposition of ban on beef consumption ahead of the Friday’s congregational prayers besides appealing people to hold protest demonstrations.
“Imposing ban on beef or on any other entity which is declared lawful by Allah in a Muslim majority land is unbearable and open interference in our religion. We condemn it and want to make clear that such orders will never be allowed to get implemented on ground,” Asiya said.
Vice-chairman of Peoples League Mohammad Yaseen Attai during an emergency meeting termed the court’s decision as direct interference in the religious matters, adding, the order hurts the sentiments of majority community in Kashmir.
“Kashmiris respect sentiments of other religions but this beef ban is clear interference in religious matters of Kashmiri Muslims,” Attai, according to a statement, said.
Terming the ban order as “unacceptable”, JKLF (R) patron Barrister Ab Majid said that the court verdict was interference in religious matters.
“The decision is autocratic and court has no jurisdiction in such matters and cannot dictate us about our customs,” he said in a statement.

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Launched in May 2012, Kashmir Reader is one of the leading English language newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir. It’s published daily from Srinagar by Helpline Group, which earned a name and fame in serious journalism